It could have started shortly after November 22, 1963 when evidence in the
assassination of President John F. Kennedy increased public awareness to the relative lack
of control over the sale and possession of firearms in America. Indeed, until 1968,
handguns, rifles, shotguns, and ammunition were commonly sold over-the-counter and through
mail-order catalogs and magazines to just about any adult anywhere in the nation.

However, America's history of regulating private ownership of firearms goes back
much farther. In fact, all the way back to...

1791
The Bill of Rights, including the Second Amendment -- "A well regulated militia,
being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear
arms, shall not be infringed." gains final ratification.

1837Georgia passes a law banning handguns. The law is ruled unconstitutional and
thrown out.

1865In a reaction to emancipation, several southern states adopt "black
codes" which, among other things, forbid black persons from possessing firearms.

1934The National Firearms Act of 1934 regulating only fully automatic firearms like
sub-machine guns is approved by Congress.

1938The Federal Firearms Act of 1938 places the first limitations on selling ordinary
firearms. Persons selling guns are required to obtain a Federal Firearms License, at an
annual cost of $1, and to maintain records of the name and address of persons to whom
firearms are sold. Gun sales to persons convicted of violent felonies were prohibited.

1968The Gun Control Act of
1968 - "...was enacted for the purpose of keeping firearms out of the hands of
those not legally entitled to possess them because of age, criminal background, or
incompetence." -- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms The Act regulates
imported guns, expands the gun-dealer licensing and record keeping requirements, and
places specific limitations on the sale of handguns. The list of persons banned from
buying guns is expanded to include persons convicted of any non-business related felony,
persons found to be mentally incompetent, and users of illegal drugs.

1972The Bureau of
Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms is created listing as part of its mission the control of
illegal use and sale of firearms and the enforcement of Federal firearms laws. ATF issues
firearms licenses and conducts firearms licensee qualification and compliance inspections.

1977The District of Columbia enacts an anti-handgun law which also requires
registration of all rifles and shotguns within the District of Columbia.

1986The Armed Career Criminal Act
(Public Law 99-570) increases penalties for possession of firearms by persons not
qualified to own them under the Gun Control Act of 1986.The Firearms Owners
Protection Act (Public Law 99-308) relaxes some restrictions on gun and ammunition
sales and establishes mandatory penalties for use of firearms during the commission of a
crime.

1989California bans the possession of semiautomatic assault weapons following the
massacre of five children on a Stockton, CA school playground.

1990The Crime Control Act of
1990 (Public Law 101-647) bans manufacturing and importing semiautomatic assault
weapons in the U.S. "Gun-free school zones" are established carrying specific
penalties for violations.

1998 - JulyAn amendment requiring a trigger lock mechanism to be included with every handgun
sold in the U.S. is defeated in the Senate.

But, the Senate approves an amendment requiring gun dealers to have trigger locks
available for sale and creating federal grants for gun safety and education programs.

1998 - OctoberNew Orleans, LA becomes the first US city to file suit against gun makers,
firearms trade associations, and gun dealers. The city's suit seeks recovery of costs
attributed to gun-related violence.

1998 - November 12Chicago, IL files a $433 million suit against local gun dealers and makers
alleging that oversupplying local markets provided guns to criminals.

1998 - November 17A negligence suite against gun maker Beretta brought by the family of a 14-year
old boy killed by an other boy with a Beretta handgun is dismissed by a California jury.

1998 - November 30
Permanent provisions of the Brady Act go into effect. Gun dealers are now required to
initiate a pre-sale criminal background check of all gun buyers through the newly created National Instant Criminal Background
Check (NICS) computer system.

1998 - December 5President Clinton announces that the instant background check system had
prevented 400 illegal gun purchases. The claim is called "misleading" by the
NRA.

1999 - JanuaryCivil suits against gun makers seeking to recover costs of gun-related violence
are filed in Bridgeport, Connecticut and Miami-Dade County, Florida.

1999 - May 20
By a 51-50 vote, with the tie-breaker vote cast by Vice President Gore, the Senate passes
a bill requiring trigger locks on all newly manufactured handguns and extending waiting
period and background check requirements to sales of firearms at gun shows.

1999 - August 24The Los Angeles County, CA Board of Supervisors votes 3 - 2 to ban the the Great
Western Gun Show, billed as the "world's largest gun show" from the Pomona, CA
fairgrounds where the show had been held for the last 30 years. (Typical
Gun Show Rules& Regulations)